Raphinha Reveals His Picks for Football's Future Superstars Who Will Dominate for Years
Raphinha has forecasted that Barcelona colleague Lamine Yamal and Chelsea's Estêvão are destined to emerge as the world's top two footballers.
These rising teenage stars will meet on the pitch for the first time in their careers this Tuesday evening when Barcelona visits Chelsea in Champions League action.
Brazilian forward Raphinha, who was among the candidates for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, trains daily with Yamal at Barcelona and represents Brazil alongside Estêvão internationally—giving him unique insight into their capabilities after observing these 18-year-olds perform at the highest level.
For over a decade, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated football as its premier talents—claiming 13 Ballon d'Or awards combined—and they're approaching a historic farewell this summer as they gear up for what's expected to be their final World Cup appearance.
The Future Is Here
The outlook appears incredibly promising though, and Raphinha spoke candidly about Yamal and Estêvão's extraordinary potential.
"In my view, they are players of remarkable caliber," Raphinha stated. "I believe that in the upcoming years, throughout the next phase of their careers, they will become the world's finest players.
"I'm confident about this because I train with Lamine [Yamal] at Barcelona and with Estêvão on the national squad, and to me, they represent two incredible talents. Reaching the pinnacle depends largely on their own dedication more than external factors.
"I'm certain they're following the correct trajectory to excel in their roles, for their teams, and their countries. I attempt to guide them using my experience, but I'm convinced they possess talents that will soar for years to come."
Cucurella, Maresca Share Thoughts on Estevao, Yamal Comparisons
Raphinha wasn't alone in addressing the parallels between Yamal and Estêvão. Chelsea's manager Enzo Maresca, however, chose to avoid direct comparisons and instead emphasized how such players enhance the sport's appeal for supporters.
"It's wonderful for football enthusiasts to witness talents like Estêvão, like Lamine Yamal, like Pedri. This represents football's true essence. Therefore, we're delighted that Estêvão is part of our squad," the Chelsea manager commented.
"From my perspective, what matters most for Estêvão is finding joy in football and maintaining happiness. He shouldn't focus on surpassing other players, but rather on improving himself continuously each day."
Similar to Raphinha, Marc Cucurella also works closely with both emerging talents. He believes they possess comparable abilities and temperaments.
"Exceptionally gifted players with immense talent," Cucurella observed. "They consistently seek possession, constantly attempt individual plays. They possess game-changing abilities.
"Currently, the distinction is that Lamine [Yamal has been] competing in European competitions for two or three seasons while Estêvão is just beginning this campaign. However, he's performing excellently and maintaining this trajectory could see him reach Lamine's [Yamal] standard."